just because; even if; even though
elder brother; one's senior; older man; man older than oneself
staringly; fixedly; unblinkingly
preference; priority; precedence
to temper thoroughly; to train well
ascension (into heaven); the Ascension; death
just kidding; not!; ersatz; imitation; phony
to hardly recognise; to mistake for something or somebody else
yikes!; eek!; ook; eek; customer
to mow down; to cut down; to knock down; to defeat; to beat
overwhelming victory; crushing victory; sweeping victory; landslide victory
to be suspicious of; to be doubtful of; to be dubious of
some time ago; recently; lately; last (Sunday, etc.); previous
incredible; unbelievable; terrific; impressive
is not; am not; are not; isn't it?
though imperfect; somehow; somehow or other
borderline between life and death; verge of death; deadline (boundary around a prison which prisoners were not allowed to cross)
to go through; to pass through; to struggle through; to get through (difficulties, danger, etc.); to escape (through the cordon)
one end; an end; part; fragment
trivial; not amounting to much
to brace oneself; to focus one's energies; to focus one's mind
lesson; class work; teaching; instruction
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
military force; force of arms; strength of an army
throwing in; inserting; investment; commitment (of funds, personnel, etc.); launching (a product into the market); introduction
fresh troops; fresh players; newcomer; new employee; new method; new way
to worry (about); to fret (over); to be anxious
calm; serenity; tranquillity; tranquility
all; completely; totally; entirely; thoroughly
to touch; to come in contact with; to receive (e.g. visitor); to attend to; to receive (news); to get; to encounter
courtyard; quadrangle; middle court
head; lead; vanguard; first
skull (esp. weatherbeaten, used as symbol of death); death's head; cranium
ruggedly; jaggedly; stiffly; choppy (e.g. graphics); lagged; clunky
jaw; chin; barb (of a fishhook)
all; altogether; entirely; exactly like; just like; spitting image of
to make sound (of an animal); to call; to cry; to make a meld call (e.g. pung, kong)
what's the matter?; what's wrong?; what happened (to) ...?; what have you done (with) ...?; where is ...?
sound of footsteps; sense or sign that something is approaching
to ring; to sound; to be popular; to be esteemed; to state; to insist